Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Perry Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Perry, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Perry homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Perry County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,796,352 | 282,182 | 1,447,260 | 663,450 | 112,270 | 7,204 | 31,146 |
| 2024 | 2,785,913 | 276,598 | 1,396,275 | 685,083 | 111,416 | 6,155 | 32,085 |
| 2023 | 2,698,411 | 278,621 | 1,389,291 | 717,601 | 111,540 | 6,964 | 44,558 |
| 2022 | 2,710,114 | 282,625 | 1,337,240 | 742,118 | 105,147 | 5,282 | 41,959 |
| 2021 | 2,677,533 | 267,454 | 1,287,322 | 760,867 | 109,832 | 4,867 | 46,436 |
| 2020 | 2,656,062 | 251,472 | 1,254,850 | 776,616 | 113,900 | 4,554 | 41,326 |
| 2019 | 2,634,591 | 235,490 | 1,222,377 | 792,365 | 117,969 | 4,241 | 36,216 |
| 2018 | 2,592,386 | 225,476 | 1,198,450 | 806,761 | 128,110 | 2,197 | 35,172 |
| 2017 | 2,598,275 | 222,650 | 1,158,937 | 790,353 | 127,198 | 2,225 | 35,586 |
| 2016 | 2,551,248 | 209,719 | 1,133,797 | 805,822 | 125,583 | 1,639 | 34,565 |
| 2015 | 2,549,385 | 200,754 | 1,103,995 | 837,082 | 141,835 | 2,117 | 38,034 |
| 2014 | 2,528,694 | 198,296 | 1,087,741 | 858,758 | 148,256 | 1,760 | 36,886 |
| 2013 | 2,516,052 | 195,799 | 1,086,074 | 870,064 | 148,597 | 1,408 | 33,941 |
| 2012 | 2,530,063 | 188,880 | 1,046,982 | 936,674 | 145,089 | 1,484 | 31,494 |
| 2011 | 2,516,883 | 178,387 | 1,019,764 | 973,749 | 137,625 | 1,545 | 28,259 |
| 2010 | 2,530,446 | 177,562 | 997,925 | 993,832 | 126,074 | 597 | 29,423 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Perry
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Perry. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of residents using number two heating oil fell from 870,064 to 663,450, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Perry
Between 2013 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 195,799 to 282,182, a 44% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,516,052 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Perry
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Perry. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,086,074 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Perry
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 7,204 homes in Perry are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 412% gain from 2013, when 1,408 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Perry County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Perry County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Perry’s overall heating oil usage fluctuates each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Perry was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Perry County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Perry County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Perry homes heating with oil, picking which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Perry can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 12 “full-service” oil companies that serve Perry. Full service companies such as Suburban Propane or WC Eshenaur & Son Inc offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Perry cash heating oil companies serving Perry include Lisi Oil Co and Marstellar Oil & Concrete Inc.
Perry Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Perry: 11 companies .
Average Number of Perry Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 60314
Perry Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in Perry heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Perry temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Perry households depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Perry County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Perry County Households | Perry County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
36 Perry Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Perry families last winter, the Perry community relies on its 36 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Perry, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Perry and the surrounding region.
